Can carrier with reinforcing means



Dec. 14, 1965 J, w ss 3,223,308

CAN CARRIER WITH REINFORCING MEANS Filed Sept. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 14, 1965 A. J. WEISS CAN CARRIER WITH REINFORCING MEANS 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1962 .Q 62 D3! as INV EN TOR Alz'ruuz J.\rlevss AT TO EM EYS Dec. 14, 1965 A. J. waxss 3,223,303

CAN CARRIER WITH REINFORCING MEANS Filed Sept. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5IN VEN TOR.

e4 Q 520 Alzruuz I. Wauss Dec. 14, 1965 A. J. WEISS 3,223,308

CAN CARRIER WITH REINFORCING MEANS Filed Sept. 27, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet4.

a B 1am- I89 INVENTOR.

THUZ J AM T ENEY United States Patent 3,223,308 CAN CARRIER WITHREINFORING MEANS Arthur J. Weiss, Bergenfield, N.J., assignor toContinental Can Company, IIHL, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Sept. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 226,704 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-40) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No.91,529, entitled Can Carrier With Reinforcing Means, filed February 21,1961, and now Patent No. 3,128,034, granted April 7, 1964.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in theconstruction of can carriers, and more specifically relates to a novelcan carrier of the wraparound paperboard type.

At the present time, there are in use can carriers of the wrap-aroundpaperboard type wherein the side walls of. the can carrier are providedwith openings along the fold lines along which the side walls areconnected to top and bottom walls of the can carrier, the openings beingfor the purpose of receiving the seams of cans to locate the cans withinthe can carrier, and the material struck from the side walls in theformation of the openings therein remaining integral with the top andbottom walls and projecting outwardly beyond the side Walls to providesupports for the seams of the cans. Since the openings are disposedalong the fold lines of the can carrier, the can carrier is subject torupture along the fold lines due to the outward directed pressure on thefold lines by the seams of the cans. As a result, in instances ruptureoccurs along the fold lines to the extent that the endrnost cans inparticular are dislodged accidentally from the can carrier.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide a novel can carrier of the wraparound paperboard type whereinthe openings in side walls thereof for receiving the seams of the cansare provided with suitable reinforcing means to prevent the accidentalrupture of the can carrier along the fold lines thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a conventional type ofcan carrier with flaps struck from the walls thereof and folded into apartial overlying relation to the side, top and bottom walls of the cancarrier surrounding the openings formed in the side Walls of the cancarrier so as to reinforce the fold lines of the can carrier at opsiteends of the openings formed in the side walls thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a conventionalcan carrier of the paperboard type, flaps which are struck from the topand bottom walls of the can carrier and folded towards the side walls ofthe can carrier, the flaps being provided with fold lines which, whenthe flaps are in position, are disposed coextensive with the fold linesof the can carrier and which flaps are aligned with openings in the sidewalls of the can carrier so that the flaps engage the seams of the cancarrier and serve to reinforce the can carrier in the areas of theopenings in the side walls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel blank forforming a can carrier, the blank having portions thereof which are cutout and are ready to be struck therefrom to define flaps which willserve as reinforcements for openings formed in the side walls of the cancarrier which is formed from the blank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a can carrier of thecustomary warp-around paperboard type with reinforcing flaps which arestruck from the top and bottom walls thereof, the reinforcing flapsbeing foldable out of the planes of the top and bottom walls topositions generally surrounding the openings formed in the side walls ofthe can carrier to serve as reinforcements for ice the can carrier inthe vicinity of the side wall openings, the flaps being disposed inalignment with only the endmost ones of the side wall openings, and eachof the flaps being provided with an edge portion for engaging the seamof a central can to restrict the outward movement of the central can andthereby resist the tearing force of a central can on the can carrieralong a fold line thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel cancarrier of the customary wrap-around paperboard type wherein the cancarrier is provided with suitable reinforcing means to prevent therupture of the can carrier along the fold lines thereof, the can carrierbeing of the type having openings in the side walls thereof for thereception of seams of cans, and the reinforcing means being in the formof a centrally located flap aligned with each central opening of the cancarrier, and the flap being provided with edge portions for engaging theseams of next adjacent cans to prevent inward movement of the cans, andthe can carrier being further provided with edge flaps for engaging theseams of the outermost cans to resist outward movement thereof, wherebythe can carrier is reinforced against tearing along the fold linesthereof due to pressures exerted thereon by cans disposed therein andprojecting through the side wall openings.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a novel cancarrier of the wrap-around paperboard type wherein the openings in sideWalls thereof for receiving the seams or chimes of cans are providedwith suitable reinforcing means in the form of cushion tabs to preventthe accidental rupture of the can carrier along the fold line, the cancarrier including projections on the side walls at the openings thereinfor overlying portions of the cushion tabs to initially retain thecushion tabs in overlying relation to the openings in the side wallsprior to the wrapping of the carrier around a plurality of cans.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel can carrierwhich has chime cuts formed in the side walls thereof for the receptionof chimes of cans and wherein top and bottom walls of the can carrierare provided with cushion tabs for overlying the chime cuts andreinforcing the fold lines between the side walls and the top and bottomwalls, and the side walls being provided with ears for interlocking withthe cushion tabs to retain the cushion tabs in folded positions at thetime the can carrier is being applied to a set of cans.

Another object of this invention is to provide a can carrier of thewrap-around type with cushion tabs for overlying chime cuts formed inside walls thereof and wherein the side walls are provided with earsdefined by the chime cuts for interlocking with the cushion tabs toretain the cushion tabs in position during the application of the cancarrier to a plurality of cans.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel cancarrier blank having fold and cut lines therein defining means forreceiving chimes of cans when the blank is folded to a carrier andcushion tabs for reinforcing the blank, the cushion tabs being of anature wherein they may be readily swung from the plane of the blank topositions overlying adjacent portions of the blank and locked in suchposition prior to the application of the blank to a plurality of cans.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel can carrierof the wrap-around paperboard type which is provided with chime cuts inside walls thereof for receiving chimes of cans and cushion tabs whichare suitable for overlying the chime cuts to reinforce the carrier andthe cushion tabs being of a type which may be automatically interlockedin position for receiving cans by machinery which is part of a carrierapplying machine.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a can carrier formed in accordancewith the invention, the can carrier having cans therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 22 of FIGURE 1, and shows the specific construction of the cancarrier including the reinforcing thereof, the cans therein being shownin phantom lines.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of thebottom wall and side wall of of the can carrier with the cans removedand shows the specific details of the reinforcing which is the subjectof this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the can carrier isformed.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of another form of can carrier and showsthe same with cans therein.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View takenalong the line 66 of FIGURE 5, and shows the specific details of thereinforcing for the can carrier, the cans being omitted for purposes ofclarity.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, takenalong the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5, and shows further the details of the cancarrier including the reinforcing therefor.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the can carrier ofFIGURE 5 is formed.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of still another form of can carrierhaving cans therein.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view, takenalong the line 1010 of FIGURE 9, and shows the specific details of thereinforcing for the can carrier.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary internal perspective view showing aportion of the bottom wall and a side wall of the can carrier of FIGURE9, and the specific details of the reinforcing for the can carrier.

FIGURE 12 isa plan view of the blank from which the can carrier ofFIGURE 9 is formed.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a modified form ofblank similar to' that of FIGURE 4 wherein the side wall panels of theblank are provided with ears for interlocking with the flaps or cushiontabs to retain the same in position.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the blank of FIGURE13, with the cushion tabs folded and interlocked in place.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line1515 of FIGURE 14, and shows the specific manner in which a cushion tabis locked in place.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a blank which is amodification of the blank of FIGURE 8 incorporating the cushion tablocking means.

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a modified form of theblank of FIGURE 12, wherein the blank is provided with locking means forthe cushion tabs thereof.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail, wherein the specificfeatures of embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In FIGURES 1through 4, inclusive, there are illustrated the details of a cancarrier, generally referred to by the numeral 15. The can carrier 15carries six conventional cans C which are provided at the opposite endsthereof with chimes or seams S. The details of the construction of thecan carrier 15 are best understood by reference to the details of ablank from which the can carrier 15 is formed, the blank being generallyreferred to by the numeral 16.

The blank 16 is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, and is generally of anelongated rectangular outline. For the most part, the blank 16 is of aconventional construction, but incorporates the novel details of thepresent invention. Accordingly, all of the specific details of the blankwill not be specifically described here.

The blank 16 is provided with a first terminal fold line 17 which setsolf at one end of the blank 16 a bottom forming panel 18. A similar foldline 19 is disposed adjacent the opposite end of the blank 16 and setsoff a terminal bottom forming panel 20. The panels 18 and 20 combine todefine a bottom wall 21 of the can carrier 15. In order to connecttogether the bottom forming panels 18 and 20, the panel 20 hasprojecting therefrom a plurality of locking tabs 22 which are hingedlyconnected to the edge of the panel 20 and which are engageable inopenings 23 formed in the panel 18. The locking tabs 22 also passthrough slits 24 in the panel 18, the slits 24 being formed in theoutlining of tabs 25 which are hingedly connected to the panel 18 alongfold lines 26. The tabs 25 project upwardly from the bottom wall 21 forengagement between the cans of the two rows of cans C in the manner bestillustrated in FIGURE 3.

The blank 16 is provided with a second set of transverse fold lines 27and 28 which correspond to the fold lines 17 and 19. The area of theblank 16 between the fold lines 27 and 28 is in the form of a top wall29 of the can carrier 15 while the area of the blank between the foldlines 17 and 27 is in the form of a side wall 30 and the portion of theblank 16 between the fold lines 19 and 28 is in the form of a side wall31.

Each of the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28 is interrupted by a generallyC-shaped cut 32 which is formed within the associated side wall 30, 31.A slit 33 intersects each of the C-shaped cuts 32 and extends along therespective side wall 30, 31 in a direction lengthwise of the blank 16.In the completed can carrier, each C-shaped cut 32 results in theformation of an opening 34 in the respective side walls 30, 31, and aprojection 35 on either the bottom wall 21 or the top wall 29. This isbest shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The purpose of the openings 34 is topermit the seams S of the cans C to project through the side walls 30,31 and to interlock the cans C with the can carrier 15 so as to preventmovement of the cans C relative to the can carrier 15. The slits 33provide for the outward expansion of the side walls 30, 31 wherevernecessary.

The top wall 29 of the blank 16 is provided with a plurality of cutlines 36 which, together with associated fold lines 37, define tabs 38which, in the formation of the can carrier 15, depend into the interiorof the can carrier 15 and extend between adjacent upper seams S ofadjacent cans, as is best shown in FIGURE 2.

The top wall 29 of the blank 16 is also provided with a pair ofoppositely facing, generally C-shaped cut lines 39 which, together withfold lines 40, define push-outs 41 which may be pushed downwardly intothe interior of the can carrier 15 to define finger-receiving openings42 (FIGURE 1) whereby ones fingers may be placed through the top wall 29of the can carrier 15 to facilitate the lifting and carrying of thefilled can carrier 15.

The foregoing features of the blank 16 and the can carrier 15 which isformed from the blank 16, are known in other blank constructionsinvented by me. However, the can carrier 15 has a tendency to tear orrupture along the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28 due to the pressuresexerted on the portions of these fold lines by the cams C therein. Thispressure is not a static pressure, but is one which is developed duringthe carrying and handling of the filled can carriers 15. The cans C,when the carriers 15 are moved, have a tendency to shaft relative to thecan carrier 15. This resistance against shifting is prevented only bythe interlocking of the cans with respect to the can carrier 15, withthe result that the pressure is exerted on the can carrier 15principally along the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28 with a tendency torupture the fold lines at the openings 34. The present invention has todo with the reinforcing of these fold lines.

The top wall 29 of the blank 16 is provided with a plurality ofgenerally C-shaped cuts 43 which face respective ones of the C-shapedcuts 32. Each of the C-shaped cuts 43 terminates in a fold line 44 whichis disposed parallel to a respective one of the fold lines 27 and 28.The bottom forming panels 18 and 20 are provided with like C-shaped cut43 which terminate in fold lines 44 which are disposed parallel to thefold lines 17 and 19. Each C-shaped cut 43, together with each fold line44, defines a flap, generally referred to by the numeral 45.

Each flap 45 is provided with a C-shaped cut 46 which is disposed inpart concentric with its associated C-shaped cut 43. The ends of theC-shaped cut 46 terminate in fold lines 47 which, in turn, terminate atthe C-shaped cut 43. Thus, each C-shaped cut 46 and the fold lines 44associated therewith divides each flap 45 into two flap portions 48 and49, as is best shown in FIGURE 3. The flap portion 49 is connected tothe respective portion of the can carrier while the flap portion 48 iscarried by the flap portion 49.

Considering now FIGURE 3 in detail, it will be seen that when the flap45 illustrated therein is folded to its can carrier reinforcingposition, the fold lines 47 thereof are disposed coextensive with thefold line 19 in the illustration. The flap portion 49 overlies thebottom forming panel and the flap portion 48 is disposed in opposedrelation to the inner surface of the side wall 31. As a result of theC-shaped cut 46 in the flap 45, an opening 50 is formed in the flapportion 48, the opening 50 being aligned with a respective one of theopenings 34. Also, a projection 51 is formed on the flap portion 49,which projection 51 projects through aligned openings 50 and 34, andoverlies the associated projection 35, as is best shown in FIGURE 1. Itis to be understood that the others of the flaps 45 are likewise sopositioned with respect to the can carrier 15.

It will be readily apparent that when the flaps 45 are folded to theposition of the flap illustrated in FIGURE 3, there is an interlockingbetween each flap and the can carrier 15 to retain the flap is place.Furthermore, the flaps 45 are held in place by the cans C after the cancarrier 15 has been wrapped therearound in the conventional manner. Eachflap 45 extends entirely about its associated opening 34 and provides adouble thickness of material along its associated one of the fold lines17, 19, 27 and- 28. Therefore, the flaps 45 serve to suitably reinforcethe can carrier 15. All of this is done without the requirement ofadditional material in the formation of the blank '16.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 5 in particular, wherein a can carrier,generally referred to by the numeral 60, is illustrated. The can carrier60 holds six cans C, the cans C being of a conventional type, such as aconventional beer can, and having chimes or seams S at opposite endsthereof. The can carrier 60 is formed from a blank 61.

The blank 61 is illustrated in FIGURE 8, and is formed of a paperproduct, such as paperboard. The blank 61 has an elongated outline andthe outline of the blank 61 is identical with that of the blank 16.Further, the basic details of the blank 61 are the same as those of theblank 16 and will therefore be identified by like numerals. Therefore,the can carrier 60 has a bottom wall 21 which is formed of overlappedand interlocked bottom wall forming panels 18 and 20, side Walls 30 and31, and a top wall 29.

The cam carrier 60 differs from the can carrier 15 in the means providedfor reinforcing the same along the various fold lines between the topand bottom walls and the side walls. The top panel 29 and the bottomforming panels 18 and 20 are each provided with flaps, generallyreferred to by the numeral 62. Each flap 62 is bounded by a fold line 63and a out line 64 which are disposed in parallel relation and areparallel to the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28, with the fold lines 63being disposed adjacent to the respective one of these fold lines. Theouter ends of the fold lines 63 and the cuts 64 are connected togetherby a C-shaped cut 65. A concave cut 66 is disposed at the inner end ofthe fold line 63 and a similar concave cut 67 is disposed at the innerend of the cut 64. The adjacent portions of the cuts 66 and 67 areconnected together by a out line 68. Thus, each flap 62 may be foldedout of the plane of its respective portion of the can carrier 6%).

Each flap 62 is provided with a C-shaped cut 69 which is aligned withand opposes the associated one of the C- shaped cuts 32. The ends of theC-shaped cut 69 are connected to the ends of the flap 62 by aninterrupted fold line '7 i).

It is to be noted that the flaps 62 are aligned only with the outermostones of the openings 34. Thus, the flaps 62 serve only to directlyreinforce the outermost openings 34. This is accomplished by foldingeach flap 62 so that a portion 71 thereof overlies or underlies itsrespective top or bottom Wall of the can carrier 60, and a secondportion 72 thereof is disposed in face-to-face relation with respect tothe respective one of the side walls 30, 31. This is best shown inFIGURE 6, for example. In the folding of the flap 62 to define the twoflap portions 71, an opening 73 is formed in the flap portion 72 inalignment with a respective one of the openings 34. In a like manner, aprojection 74 is formed on the flap portion 71 in alignment with arespective one of the projections 35. The flap 74 extends through thealigned openings 34 and 73 and is aligned with its respective projection35.

The flaps. 62, being aligned with only the outermost ones of theopenings 34, serve to directly reinforce the can body 62 in the vicinityof these outermost openings. However, the flaps 62 also serve toindirectly reinforce the can carrier in the vicinity of the centralopenings 34.

In the formation of each flap 62, the cut 66 forms a curved edge 75 atthe inner end of the flap portions 71. The position and curvature ofthis curved edge corresponds to the position and curvature of the seam Sof an associated central can C, as is best shown in FIGURE 7. Since thetwo flaps 62 along each line of cans C combine to engage the seam S onopposite sides of the center can C, it will be apparent that thecentermost cans are restrained against movement by the fiaps 62. Thus,in effect, the can carrier 60 is reinforced in the vicinity of thecenter openings 34.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 9 through 12, inclusive, and to FIGURE9 in particular, wherein there is illustrated another form of cancarrier, generally referred to by the numeral 80. The can carrier isvery similar to the can carriers 15 and 60, but differs therefrom onlyin the means for reinforcing the same. The can carrier 89 is alsointended for holding six cans C having chimes or seams S at the oppositeends thereof. The can carrier 80 is formed from a blank which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 81.

The basic construction of the blank 81 is the same as that of the blanks16 and 61. Accordingly, only the differences between the blank 16 andblank 81 will be described in detail, and like parts of the two blankswill be provided with like numerals.

A noticeable difference between the blanks 16 and 81 is that the blank81 is provided with a pair of extension strips 82 which extend along theopposite sides thereof and which overlap small portions of the bottomforming panels 18 and 20 and extend alongside the ends of the top wall29 and the side walls 30 and 31. These strips 82 are connected to themain portion of the blank 81 along elongated fold lines. 83. It is to benoted that the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28 extend to the outer edges ofthe blank 81, that is, these fold lines extend across the strips 82. Inthe forming of the carrier 80 from the blank 81,

the strips 32 are folded into overlying relation with the inner surfaceof the blank 81 and are adhesively secured thereto in a known manner.

The strips 82 form reinforcing for the can carrier 80 in a manner to bedescribed in detail hereinafter. The can carrier 80 also has otherreinforcing which is different from the reinforcing of the can carriersand 60.

Each of the bottom forming panels 18 and 20 is provided with a singleflap, generally referred to by the numeral 84, and the top panel 29 isprovided with a pair of the flaps 84. Each flap 84 is aligned with acentral one of the openings 34 in the final can carrier 80. Each flap 84is defined by a fold line 85 and a out line 86 which are in parallelrelation and are parallel to the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28, with thefold line 85 being closest to these fold lines. At each end of each foldline 85 is a concave cut 87, and a similar concave cut 88 is formed ateach end of the cut line 86. The concave cuts 87 and 88 adjacent eachother have their adjacent ends connected together by a straight out 89.

Each flap 84 is divided into a pair of flap portions 90 and 91 by agenerally centrally located fold line 92 which extends the full lengththereof. The fold line 92 is interrupted by a C-shaped cut 93 which isaligned with and opposes a respective one of the C-shaped cuts 32.

In the folding of the blank 81 to form the carton 89, each flap 84 isfolded along its fold lines 92 so that the flap portion 90 thereofeither underlies the top wall 29 or overlies the bottom wall 21 formedfrom the bottom wall forming panels 18 and 20. At the same time, theflap portion 91 of each flap 84 is disposed in opposed relation to arespective one of the side walls 30, 31. At this time, the fold line 92of the flap 84 becomes aligned with a respective one of the fold lines17, 19, 27 and 28. Also, in the folding of each flap 84, due to theprovision of the C-shaped cut 93, an opening 94 is formed in the flapportion 91 in alignment with a respective one of the central openings 34(see FIGURE 11). In the formation of the opening 94, a projection 95 onthe flap portion 90 is formed in alignment with a respective one of theprojections 35. Thus, the flaps 84 serve to directly reinforce the camcarrier 80 along the centermost ones of the openings 34 formed in theside walls thereof.

In the forming of the flap 84, the concave cuts 87 define curved edges96 at opposite ends of the flap portion 90. The positions and curvatureof the curved edges 96 correspond to the positions and curvatures of theseams S of the endmost ones of the cans C, as is best shown in FIGURE10. Thus, each flap 84 serves to prevent the corresponding ends of thecorresponding endmost ones of the cans from moving inwardly towards thecenter of the can carrier 89. In a like manner, the inner edges of thefolded strips 82 serve as abutments for the seams of the outermost onesof the cans C. Thus, the strips 82 and the flaps 84 combine to preventrelative shifting of the outermost cans C with respect to the cancarrier 80 and in this manner serve to reinforce the can carrier 80 toprevent tearing along the fold lines 17, 19, 27 and 28 at the ends ofthe outermost ones of the openings 34.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 13, 14 and 15, wherein there isillustrated a modified form of blank wherein there are shown the detailsof a modified form of can carrier, generally referred to by the numeral115, which is formed from a blank 116. In view of the fact that only aminor portion of the blank 116 and the resultant carrier 115 differsfrom the construction of the blank 16 and the carrier 15, only themodified portion of the carrier and blank will be described hereinafter.

The blank 116 is provided with a plurality of cut lines or chime cuts132 which correspond to the cut lines 32 and which interrupt the foldlines across the blank, for example, a fold line 127 which correspondsto the fold line 27. The cut line or chime cut 132 definesa.projeetion.135.which corresponds to the projection 35.

However, the shape of the projection 135 is slightly modified in thatthe shape of the cut line or chime cut 132 is modified to the extentthat an ear 136 is defined. A slit 133, which extends substantiallynormal to the fold line 127, bisects the ear 136.

A flap or cushion tab 145, which corresponds to the flap 45 of the blank16, is associated with each chime cut 132. Each flap is defined by agenerally C- shaped cut line 143 and a fold line 144. The cushion tab145 is provided with an interrupted fold line 147, the fold line 147being interrupted by a generally C- shaped cut 146 which is aligned withand opposes the chime cut 132. The C-shaped cut 146 and the fold line147 combine to divide the cushion tab 145 into a first portion 148 and asecond portion 149. The first portion 148 is directly hingedly connectedto the remainder of the blank 116 along the fold line 144, and thesecond portion 149 is hingedly connected to. the first portion 148 alongthe fold line 147.

In accordance with this invention, when the cushion tab 145 is foldedalong the fold line 144, the cut line 146 overlies the chime cut 132 sothat chimes of cans may pass through the aligned openings defined bythese cuts. While the cushion tabs 145 may be readily folded intooverlying positions with respect to adjacent portions of the blank 116,they are not retained in this position by merely the folding operation.Accordingly, it is desired to interlock the cushion tabs 145 with otherportions of the blank 116 to hold the cushion tabs in place during thepositioning of the blank 116 with respect to a plurality of cans. Thisis the purpose of the ear 136 defined by each chime cut 132. Asisclearly shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, the ear 136 may be moved to aposition overlying the first half 148 of the respective cushion tab 145while underlying the second half 149. In this manner, the cushion tabs145 are held in place until the carrier 115 has been wrapped around therespective cans.

It is to be understood thatv the carriers 60 and 80 may be modified inthe same manner as described above with respect to the modification ofthe carrier 15. In FIGURE 16, there is illustrated a modified form ofthe blank of FIGURE 8, and in FIGURE 17, there is i1- lustrated amodified form of the blank of FIGURE 12.

Referring now to FIGURE 16, it will be seen that there is illustrated aportion of a carrier blank 161 incorporating the locking means for theflap or cushion tabs. The blank 161 is modified over the blank 61 to theextent that each of the cut lines or chime cuts 132 thereof defines anear 136. The ear 136 is for the purpose of locking the associated flapor cushion tab 162 in position for the reception of a can. The flap 162corresponds exactly to the flap 62, each flap or cushion tab 162 beingbounded by a fold line 163 and a out line 164. The fold line 163 and thecut line 164 are disposed in parallel relation and the outer ends of theassociated fold line 163 and out line 164 are connected together by aC-shaped cut 165. A concave cut 166 is disposed at the inner end of thefold line 163 and a similar concave cut 167 is disposed at the inner endof the out line 164. The adjacent portions of the cuts 166 and 167 areconnected together by a out line 168. Thus, each flap or cushion tab 162may be folded out of the plane of its respective portion of the blank161.

Each cushion tab 162 is provided with a C-shaped cut 169 which isaligned with and opposes the chime cut 132. The ends of the C-shaped cut169 are connected to the ends of the cushion tab 162 by an interruptedfold line 170. The C-shaped cut 169 and the fold line 170 com bine todivide the cushion tab 162 into a first half 171 which is directlyhingedly connected to the blank 161 along the fold line 163, and asecond half 172 which is hingedly connected to the first half 171 alongthe fold line 178.

When the blank 161, is to be applied to a plurality 9 bf cans, thecushion tabs 162 thereof are initially folded out of the plane of theblank in the manner described above with respect to the cushion tabs145. In the folded positions of the cushion tabs 162, the ears 136overlie the cushion tab halves 171 to lock the cushion tabs 162 in placeuntil such time as the carrier blank 161 has been applied to the cans.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 17 wherein there is illustrated a blank181 which corresponds to the blank 81 but which is modified in a mannerdescribed above with respect to the blanks 116 and 161. The blank 181differs from the blank 81 in that the central ones of the cut lines orchime cuts 32 of the blank 81 have been modified to define ears 136 andare referred to by the numeral 132. The changed shape of the out line orchime cut 132 also results in a slightly differently shaped projection135.

The carrier blank 181 also has flaps or cushion tabs, generally referredto by the numeral 184, which correspond to the flaps 84 of the carrierblank 81. Each flap or cushion tab 184 is defined by a fold line 185 anda straight cut line 186 which are in parallel relation. At each end ofthe fold line 185 there is a concave cut 187. A similar concave cut 188is disposed at each end of the out line 186. The concave cuts 187 and188 adjacent each other have their adjacent ends connected together bystraight cuts 189.

Each flap or cushion tab 184 is divided into flap halves or portions 190and 191 by a generally centrally located fold line 192 and a C-shapedcut 193 which interrupts the fold line 192. The C-shaped cut 193 isdisposed in opposed and aligned relation with the associated cut line orchime cut 132.

In accordance with this invention, prior to the application of thecarrier blank 181 to a plurality of cans in the forming of a package,each of the flaps or cushion tabs 184 is folded to a position overlyingan adjacent portion of the blank 181. Each cushion tab 184 is locked inits folded position by the snapping engagement of an associated ear 136over the portion 190 of the cushion tab 184. The ears 136 serve to holdthe cushion tabs 184 in their folded positions until such time as thecarrier blank 181 has been applied to cans.

The formation of the various reinforcements of the several forms of cancarriers does not detract from the appearance of the can carriers sincethe materials primarily required for the reinforcing flaps are formedfrom the tops and bottoms of the can carriers. Further, the formation ofthe flaps does not remove critical material from the top and bottomwalls of these can carriers and therefore does not weaken these portionsof the cancarriers.

The specific examples of can carriers illustrated and described have canseam engaging projections aligned with the side wall openings. However,in other similar forms of can carriers these projections are notprovided. When can carriers of this type are modified in accordance withthe present invention, the reinforcing flaps will normally correspond tothe construction of the can carrier and will not be provided with theprojections illustrated and described herein.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageousprovision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However,attention is again directed to the fact that variations may be made inthe example apparatus disclosed herein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for a can carrier of the wrap-around type, said blank beingof an elongated rectangular outline and being divided into panels bytransverse fold lines, said panels including terminal bottom formingpanels, side wall panels and a central top wall panel, cooperating tabsand slots on said bottom forming panels, each of said fold lines beinginterrupted by a plurality of opening defining cuts in a respective oneof said side wall panels to define can receiving openings in said sidewall panels, and cut and fold lines on at least one of said top Wallpanel and bottom forming panels in alignment With at least certain ofsaid opening defining cuts defining flaps foldable to positionsoverlying said fold lines at the ends of certain of the side wallopenings defined by said opening defining cuts to reinforce the erectedcan carrier along said fold lines, and flap locking means on said sidewalls for temporary interlocking engagement with said flaps to retainsaid flaps in folded overlying relation to the respective openingdefining cuts during the application of the blank.

2. The blank of claim 1 wherein there is one flap for each openingdefining cut.

3. The blank of claim 1 wherein said flaps are aligned only with theoutermost ones of said opening defining cuts, and inner ends of saidflaps have contoured edge portions for engaging centrally located cans.

4. The blank of claim 1 wherein said flaps are aligned only with thecentral ones of said opening defining cuts, ends of said flaps beingcontoured for engaging outermost cans, and strips extendinglongitudinally along opposite edges of said blank and normal to saidfold lines, said strips being connected to the remainder of said blankby fold lines for folding into overlying relation to ends of saidpanels.

5. The blank of claim 1 wherein said flap locking means for each flap isin the form of a locking car on an associated one of said side wallpanels defined by said opening defining cut.

6. The blank of claim 1 wherein each of said certain opening definingcuts is generally C-shaped and opens towards an adjacent one of saidfold lines, and each C-shaped cut has a central portion bulged towardssaid adjacent fold line and defining a locking ear which constitutessaid flap locking means.

7. In a paperboard carrier of the type including a first wall in theform of a can end engaging Wall and a second Wall in the form of a canbody engaging wall with said first and second walls being joinedtogether along a fold line and wherein said second wall has openingstherein spaced along said fold line for the reception of can seams;reinforcing means on said can carrier for preventing the tearing of saidcan carrier along said fold line starting at said openings, saidreinforcing means being in the form of a flap struck from one of saidwalls and folded to overlie said fold line at the ends of one of saidopenings and portions of said second wall, and flap locking means on theother of said walls for temporary interlocking engagement with said flapto retain said flap in its folded position during the application of thecarrier to cans.

8. The can carrier of claim 7 wherein said flap is divided into firstand second flap portions by a fold line extending coextensive along saidfold line between said first and second walls, and said first flapportion directly overlies said first wall and said second flap portiondirectly opposes said second wall, said flap locking means beingengageable with said first flap portion in overlying relation.

9. The can carrier of claim 7 wherein said flap is divided into firstand second flap portions by a fold line extending coextensive along saidfold line between said first and second walls, and said first flapportion directly overlies said first wall and said second flap portiondi rectly opposes said second wall, said flap locking means being in theform of an ear projecting into a respective one of said openings towardssaid first wall and being adapted to overlie the first flap portion toretain said flap in its folded position during the application of thecarrier to cans.

10. The can carrier of claim 7 wherein said flap has an opening thereingenerally aligned with the associated one of said second Wall openings,and two edge portions each terminating remote from its associated one ofsaid openings and adjacent a next adjacent one of said openings, saidflap edge portion being positioned for engagement with a seam of a canaligned with said next adjacent opening to resist movement of such cantowards said one opening.

11. The can carrier of claim 7 wherein there is one flap for eachopening.

12. The can carrier'of claim 7 wherein there is a flap for each endmostof said openings and wherein each flap has an opening therein generallyaligned with the associated one of said second wall openinggand an edgeportion terminating remote from its associated one of said openings,said flap edge portion being positioned for engagement with a seam of acan aligned with said next ad acent opening to resist movement of suchcan towards said one opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,791 9/1957Arneson 22940 X 2,950,854 8/1960 Ganz -2 22940 2,993,618 7/1961 Kulig22940 X 2,993,635 7/ 1961 Arneson 22940 3,006,530 10/1961 Forrer 229403,016,182 1/1962 Chidsey 22940 3,049,282 8/ 1962 Chidsey et a1. 206-65 XFRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

1. A BLANK FOR A CAN CARRIER OF THE WRAP-AROUND TYPE, SAID BLANK BEINGOF AN ELONGATED RECTANGULAR OUTLINE AND BEING DIVIDED INTO PANELS BYTRANSVERSE FOLD LINES, SAID PANELS INCLUDING TERMINAL BOTTOM FORMINGPANELS, SIDE WALL PANELS AND A CENTRAL TOP WALL PANEL, COOPERATING TABSAND SLOTS ON SAID BOTTOM FORMING PANELS, EACH OF SAID FOLD LINES BEINGINTERRUPTED BY A PURALITY OF OPENING DEFINING CUTS IN A RESPECTIVE ONEOF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS TO DEFINE CAN RECEIVING OPENINGS IN SAID SIDEWALL PANELS, AND CUT AND FOLD LINES ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID TOP WALLPANEL AND BOTTOM FORMING PANELS IN ALIGNMENT WITH AT LEAST CERTAIN OFSAID OPENING DEFINING CUTS DEFINING FLAPS FOLDABLE TO POSITIONSOVERLYING SAID FOLD LINES AT THE ENDS OF CERTAIN OF THE SIDE WALLOPENINGS DEFINED BY SAID OPENING DEFINING CUTS TO REINFORCE THE ERECTEDCAN CARRIER ALONG SAID FOLD LINES, AND FLAP LOCKING MEANS ON SAID SIDEWALLS FOR TEMPORARY INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLAPS TO RETAINSAID FLAPS IN FOLDED OVERLYING RELATION TO THE RESPECTIVE OPENINGDEFINING CUTS DURING THE APPLICATION OF THE BLANK.